Combined sounding figure toy and return ball



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,910

w. S. MINNIX COMBINED SOUNDING FIGURE TOY AND RETURN BALL Fiied Feb. I8, 192':

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Patented Sept; 11, 1928.

I E PA ENT OFFICE.

' -w1m.m1vr s. vrnvmx, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

COMBINED SOUNDING FIGURE TOY-AND RETURN BALL.

Application filed rem-nar is, 1927. Serial No. 169,244.

' My present invention relates particularly to an improved return ball or toy :for use by children as an amusement device. In carrying out my invention, '1 utilize a hollow hand ball of the well lznownreturn ball type, and equip it with both audible and visible devices which are actuated by the manipulation of the ball as it is tossed from the player. The audible means for attracting attention, or noise maker, while here shown as a whistle, may be some othersuitable device that is sounded by the passage of an air blast therethrough. I The visible means for attracting attention which is actuated by the manipulation of the ball comprises a pair of ears that are projected and retracted or withdrawn through complementary openings inthe hollow ball, as the latter is tossed into the air by the player.

Through certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts involving both an elastic and an inelastic cord within the hollow ball,the noise making device is sounded,

and the ears are proiected. as will be hereinatter more itully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,I have il lustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according'to one mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principics of my invention. But it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of my invention. 4

Figure 1 is a 'view showing the exterior of the return ball, a portion of theelaSt-ic cord, and indicating a finger ring by means ofwhich the cord may be anchored to the hand or finger.

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of the ball showing in detail the interior parts which 7 are illustrated in normal position.

Figure 3 1s a sectional view of the ball showing the position of the parts whenthe ears are projected, and the whistle sounded.

Figure i is a detail plan view of theelement forming the pair of cars, and indicating by dotted lines the guides for these ears. I

In carrying out my invention, any. suitable type of hollow ball may be used, but for convenience of illustration, I have shown a sectional ball made up of two parts as 1 and 2, that are properly cemented -01:

otherwise secured at the flanged centralporition 3. The ball may" be ornamented,

colfu'ed. or decorated invarious ways and as. ocslred to make it attractive in appearcounter or other place.

The usualfinger ring a is provided for I anchoring the elastic cord 5,5and this elastic cord or rubber string passes through an opening 6 in the ball. Vithin the ball an inelastic cord 7 is attached by a knot or other device 8 and anotherelastic'cord 9 forms a :cont'inuat-ion of these cords. 5 and 7. This latter, elastic section 9 is anchored at 10 inn weightll which is cast of cement.

lance to a child, purchaser, and for display purposes when the toys are on sale at a store These cars 12 and '13 are preferably. fashioned at the ends of 'astrip of resilient v material 14, which may be celluloid or other 11185611511, and the ears are designed to be prcqected and withdrawn through openings 15 in the wall of the ball. r

The outer or free vends ot these-ears are retained within tubular guides 16 which have flan es 17 attached in an 'ro riate manner to the inner face of the ball. The inelastic cord 7' is anchored at one end of the strip 14: at 18, and the elastic cord 9 is anchored at 19 at the underside of the strip From this description taken together with the drawings, it will be-apparent that with the ring 4 on a finger, when the 'ball is tossed away by the player, as the ball reaches a distance to stretch the elastic cord 5, tension is also placed on the elastic cord '9, and it is stretched from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. The stretching movement of the elastic cord 9 moves the normally curved central portion of the resilient strip 14to a partial or approximately straight position, and the straightening of the central portion of the strip causes the two ears to be projected through their tubular guides and openings 15 to the extended position of Fig. 3. Due to the elasticity oi the c0rd'5, the ball is returned to the hand of the player and as the pull or strain is thus removed from the extended cord 9, the elasticity of this cord returnsit from the stretched position of 3 to the normal. position of 2, thereby flexing the center portion of the resilient strip 14, and thus retracting or withdrawing the ears 12 and 13 into their tubular guides, so that they are invisible.

For producing a noise, as a whistling sound, or other audible note, I utilize the knot or abutment 8 T connection with a pneumatic or bellows device 20 to sound the whistle 21 located in the wall of the ball near the entrance of the elast c core 5 to the interior of the ball. The bellows or. pneumatic is normally open as in Fig. 2, butwhen the ball has nearly reached the limit of the elasticity-0t the section 5, the tension of this part causes theabutment to contact with the bellows or penumatic 20, and close, the latter.

The closing movement of the bellows blows air through the whistle 21 and a whistling sound results. It will be noted that the bellows has holes 22 and the elastic cord passes through the openings 6 and 22 as shown in Figs2 and 3. i v v V I In the manner described, each successive time the ball is tossed from theiplayer, the visible element, as the ears, are projected'to display position, and the audible device or whistle, is sounded, thus adding interest to and providing a source of amusement for the person playing with the ball, and to spectators also.

Various changes and alterations may be' made in the device as shown, as for instance the shape of the ball may be changed, well as its decorative features;'the shape of the we ght Letters Patent is- 1 A toy of the return ball type including i a hollow head having apertures therein, an

elastic cord passed through an opening in the ball and having one enclanc-hored w thin the head, an invisible element within the head having feature simulating ends mounted for movement through said apertures, and means ronnecting said element to thecord whereby the ends of the element are projected through the apertures to visible exterior-position as the cord is stretched. V a

2. A toy ofthe return ball type including achollow head having apertures therein and a weight ithin the head, an elastic cord secured to the weight, a resilient strip secured to said cord and ears at the ends of said strip, and innerftubular'guides on the head whereby said ears may be projected and retracted through the apertures of the head.

3.1 1 toy of the return hall type including a hollow head having apertures therein and comprising an elast c cord anchored within the head, a normally bent resilient strip secured to said cord, ears at theends of said strip whereby the ears may be projected through the apertures in the head' as the elastic cord is stretched, and means the head for guiding said ears.

i. A hollow head having apertures therein, a and an elastic cord secured to the weight within the head, an invisible element within the head secured to said cord having ends to simulate ears andadapted to be projected through the apertures in the head, a sound producing device in the wall of the head, a bellows for actuating said device, and means fixed on the elastic cord to contact with and actuate said bellows.

WILLIAM s. MINNIX.

within toy of the reurn ball type includinga 

